Many years ago, I was introduced to Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill.
At first, I thought the book was just about riches. But I was wrong. It’s about thinking differently. Think and Grow Rich reminded me that wealth is in the mind first. And to this day, it continues to offer rare wisdom for anyone who’s serious about doing more with what they have.
In this post, I’m sharing 7 money mindset shifts I’ve learned from this classic, and how they can shape how you see wealth, purpose, and progress.
1. Desire: It’s not Enough to just want it, You Have to Want It Bad
“Desire is the starting point of all achievement.” – Napoleon Hill
People who want it bad enough are the ones who move mountains.
When you really want something, you won’t make excuses, you’ll make room.
Desire sharpens your senses. You notice more, care more, try harder.
You’re not just waiting for things to happen, you’re actively pulling them toward you.
That’s the first step: Want it like your life depends on it. Because in many ways, it does.
2. Faith: The Blueprint You Build With, Before You See the House
I love the definition of Faith from Hebrews 11:1: It says “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
“Faith is the head chemist of the mind.” – Napoleon Hill
Before anything shows up in your account, it has to show up in your belief.
Faith is spiritual. Faith is strategic. You have to believe in what you’re building, even when the numbers say otherwise. You can’t build wealth with shaky hands and a double mind.
Faith is the quiet confidence that says: I may not be there yet, but I’m on my way.
3. Auto-Suggestion: Your Thoughts Are on Loop, Make Sure They’re Saying the Right Things
“Any idea, plan, or purpose may be placed in the mind through repetition of thought.” – Napoleon Hill
If you ever noticed how a song gets stuck in your head when you’ve heard it enough, that’s how auto-suggestion works. It’s your internal playlist, constantly replaying what you feed it.
If your daily chorus is “I’m bad with money” or “I’ll never be rich,” don’t be surprised when your life sings the same song.
Change the lyrics. Start saying things that align with the wealth you want. Because your thoughts are planting seeds, even when you’re not watching.
4. Specialized Knowledge: Be a Well, Not a Bucket
“General knowledge, no matter how vast, is of little use in the accumulation of money.” – Napoleon Hill
We’re in the age of information overload. Everyone knows something.
But wealth comes to people who go deep, not just wide.
Don’t aim to know everything about everything. Aim to know something deeply enough that it becomes valuable, useful, and monetizable.
Be the person with answers, not just opinions.
For example: surgeon, not general practitioner or Laser, not flashlight.
5. Procrastination: The Real Poverty Trap
“Procrastination, the opposite of decision, is a common enemy which practically every man must conquer.” – Napoleon Hill
Whether you start today or tomorrow, the sun will rise and you’ll still be getting older.
You might as well start now.
Procrastination feels harmless, but it’s expensive. It steals momentum, motivation, and time, and still leaves you with regret.
Once you Decide. Move.
Because delay has never deposited a dollar.
6. Persistence: Wealth Doesn’t Respond to Mood Swings
“Those who win are those who keep on keeping on.” – Napoleon Hill
You can’t build wealth only on “productive days.”
The people who win are the ones who show up, whether they are in the mood or not.
Keep doing the right things, even when they don’t look like they’re working.
Because often, success is underground before it ever breaks the surface.
Keep planting. Keep watering. One day, it’ll bloom.
7. The Mastermind Principle: Change Your Environment, Change Your Life
“No individual may have great power without availing himself of the Master Mind.” – Napoleon Hill
If you want to build wealth, start with your circle.
Money mindset is contagious. If you’re surrounded by people who think small, complain constantly, or fear every risk, it’ll rub off on you.
Get around thinkers. Builders. People who stretch your vision and challenge your comfort.
Your environment is not just where you live, it’s what you absorb.
Upgrade your room, and you upgrade your reach.
Think and Grow Rich is a powerful one. It’s a reminder that your thoughts shape your life, and that wealth begins in the mind long before it shows up in your bank account.
Have you read the book?
What’s one money mindset you’ve had to unlearn or upgrade on your journey?
Drop it in the comments or share this post with someone who’s ready to grow in wealth and wisdom.
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